I recently found the book, "Thinking and Destiny" written 60 years ago by Harold W. Percival. I was surprised that it doesnt seem to be very well known, but the concepts it presents are strikingly similar to those used by Eckhart Tolle. The book discusses the topics of the pain body or "desire ghosts" and describes that humans must be able to think without creating thoughts in order to attain spiritual liberation. The whole work is about how to think and balance one's thoughts so as not to create additional destiny. He describes how to rise beyond thoughts so one is not compelled to create thoughts endlessly by nature.

I found it very helpful that he describes the danger of engaging in "spiritism"-which is essentially the worship of dead beings. I feel like practicing "presence" all the time can lead to a state where one is continually focused on spirit and the non-physical. In Thinking and Destiny, H. Percival describes that the state to achieve is one in the Light and not just in unknown presence. Percival warns against the possibility that the barrier is weakened between the world of the living and the dead. I feel like when I was attempting to be as present as possible that I was unknowingly inviting unknown spirits and beings into the living world.

In his books, Eckhart Tolle mentions several metaphysical things but doesnt cite a source for that material. I think it might be plausible that he found some of that information in this book.

I suppose I didn't ask a question in the last post. So I'll ask one now:
In the state of presence, as you experience it, how do you relate to thoughts? Are you merely a witness of thoughts or can you engage in thinking while being present? Do you ever find that thoughts disappear yet you are still thinking ?
Thinking and Destiny provides insight into how thoughts can be gotten rid of, while you remain an active thinker. I find it a fascinating book. Hopefully someone else can benefit from it as well

Thinking only really becomes an issue when thinking becomes the primary focus, more or less day dreaming. It can also be subtly intrusive when thoughts create a running dialogue of events, commenting on everything. Like an armchair critic commenting on the news and current affairs, the mind creates a running dialogue of current events.

I find the best thing to remember, is that we don't need to label everything and we don't need to tell ourselves what we are doing constantly. For example, I don't need to tell myself I'd like a cup of tea. I know I'd like a cup of tea wihtout there being any words spoken. I can easily and efficiently get a cup of tea without the mind commenting at all.

“Wisdom is knowing I am nothing, Love is knowing I am everything, and between the two my life moves.” ― Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Anyone who is actually reading thinking and Destiny trying to figure out how to relate subjects should use the chapters the point or circle and also The Circle Or Zodiac. through that you'll understand that time is the relation of units or a mass of units to each other and that in each atmosphere units are related differently but in the psychic atmosphere time is related by the feeling relating itself to desire, in the mental atmosphere where real thinking actually goes on you relate units to one another through rightness and reason. just to throw that out there For when you're in Nowness understanding the point or circle will act as a map...

Hello,
I'm a long time student of the book thinking and Destiny. I have often times marveled at the similarity with Eckhart Tolle technique of sensing being in your hand or in some part of your body as the warmth in tingling but not of the body. Harold Percival wrote such an amazing book in 1946 that seems to cover all of the same things. I actually studied A Course in Miracles for over 20 years before I set it aside in favor of thinking in Destiny. The reason is that the course of Miracles totally disregards all physical as illusion. This is probably true as Eckert often mentions, at a very high level. But at the everyday level I found the denial of the physical world to be troublesome and rather irresponsible. In thinking in Destiny Mr Percival goes into the mechanics of what makes everything work, including our own thoughts. I very much like this approach. But one thing I have always wondered is, does Eckhart Tolle have any belief or knowledge of the concept of the Triune self? If anyone has ever asked him or has heard him speak of this or of thinking in Destiny, please let me know. Regards, Joshua